What you need to make a good espresso on the road

There are compromises to accept when you are away from your home or office coffee maker or your favourite cafe. Namely, they include not getting your espresso as YOU like it or finding alternative coffee brewing methods which are never as good as a commercial espresso machine in the hands of an expert and passionate barista.

So, when I am on the road, my main compromise is to forego my beloved, pump-espressed coffee in favour of a steam-espressed coffee, by using a stovetop espresso maker heated by gas.

This can make good coffee, just not perfect coffee because, in my humble opinion, nothing beats the alchemy of espressing water and coffee grounds together under measured, mechanical pressure. You do need a solid force to merge water and oil, after all.

So here is my checklist:

Wooden crate insulated by old towel (this works for me because these items can deal with hot utensils resting in them after the coffee stop, and are not going to melt or ignite!)

Stainless steel cup (this works for me because it is insulated and unbreakable but you could choose one of those plastic/rubber travelling mugs with a lid – when I experimented with that I discovered that each cup of Baristador coffee lasts 150km)

Spoon or measure (this is for adding AND tamping the coffee grounds into the coffee holder)

Water

Portable gas burner with spare bottle

A picnic bench on the side of a road, preferably shielded from strong winds

And now, for the video. I hope it gives you some tips or at least encourages you to try. Please share your adventures or experiences in the comments.

Cart

Recent Coffee Articles

A note from Steve Davis

Welcome, friend.
You and I share a special bond - a love for good, rich, pure coffee.
Think about how annoyed you get every time a cafe serves you substandard coffee, or a 'gourmet' shop or supermarket sells you stale, disappointing "coffee" deceptively presented in shiny, pretty, colourful packs.
If your blood pressure rose a few notches while thinking about these things, then you really are in the right place ...Continue reading